Dealership just did a Computerized Precision Alignment... car now pulls to the right - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

MJZ · 05-05-2009, 06:36 PM

Has this happened to anyone? My car was fine but I wanted to do an alignment with my usual service, so had tires balanced, rotated, and did the 4 wheel alignment along with the 15K factory service.

Soo... I'm going to drive it some more but car definitely feels like it's pulling to the right.

Anyone know how these things can screw up? They even printed out the Alignment report, showing the initlal and corrected #s.

***bandit*** · 05-05-2009, 06:42 PM

Take it back to them. All that computerized info and prints shows the alignment on the wheels only but not how they installed it on the car.

MJZ · 05-05-2009, 06:55 PM

Is there any chance something else could be the cause?

Interestingly, after about 7000 miles, my Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires still say full tread depth...

***darksparkz*** · 05-05-2009, 07:09 PM

Was it out of alignment prior to you bringing it in for service?

Best bet is just bring it in and the dealership will try to duplicate the problem, if so, they'd just do a realignment.

MJZ · 05-05-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darksparkz

Was it out of alignment prior to you bringing it in for service?

Best bet is just bring it in and the dealership will try to duplicate the problem, if so, they'd just do a realignment.

Technically yes. The computer print out shows slight alignment deviations.

But no pulling to either side when I brought it in.

catric69 · 05-05-2009, 08:08 PM

You might want to have them cross rotate the tires.

jayrguidaben · 05-05-2009, 08:11 PM

^^ +1 if you can switch the 2 front wheels right to left and left to right and see if there's a difference.

Sean89 · 05-05-2009, 08:46 PM

Oh wow its wierd how you post about this. I have the same issue, except for my car pulls to the left. I have not had an alignment done however. I have had them rotate the tires at my 5K service and 10K service which was last weekend. Ever since my 10K service my car is pulling to the left. Could this be something that might have happened while they rotated the tires?

I had called them and they said under warranty I have 1 alignment because my car is less than 1 year old and less than 12K miles.

MJZ · 05-05-2009, 09:14 PM

A clue seems to be the steering wheel is actually pulling. It will be straight and then you can see the steering wheel tilt noticeably to the right... and the car veers off to the right. It happens after correction to the left, even overcorrection ... repeatedly.

I'm now thinking it's a tire issue or rotation issue...

Brand new tires though (got them around 7000 miles, now the car has 14,000)

salvimoreno · 05-05-2009, 10:00 PM

Well obviously the steering wheel turns when the wheels turn... just playing lol

***Yazovets*** · 05-05-2009, 11:21 PM

Rotating your tires won't make "that" much of a difference. Just keep on insisting on having the alignment re-done until you're satisfied. Go out for a drive with the shop foreman and show him the car doesn't track straight.

The other possibility is that while doing alignment, they moved your steering wheel off center. What that means is the car may be aligned but now to go straight, the "default" position of your steering wheel is no longer dead center.

Again, that's an issue which they must fix. I fought such a battle a year ago. The dealer put in my transmission number 2 (1st one died) and because they had to dismantle some sort of front sub-frame, alignment had to be performed. I had to return twice before they made the car go straight again...

09Camry · 05-06-2009, 08:44 AM

jzh,

Could well be the tires. I recommend swapping the wheels as suggested above before going back to the alignment shop. Years ago I had a similar situation that was solved by rotating the tires. I was surprised how much a difference it made. None of the tires had any obvious defects and ran fine otherwise.

Allan

willt · 05-06-2009, 11:28 AM

yes i had that problem. 2 months ago they guy from just tires told me i had a radial pull so i went so i back to the place where i purchase my tires and have them rotate. its still pull but just a little but its ok.

just tires told me its a tire problem but if it really bothers you get a new set

twinklit · 05-06-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzh

Has this happened to anyone? My car was fine but I wanted to do an alignment with my usual service, so had tires balanced, rotated, and did the 4 wheel alignment along with the 15K factory service.

Soo... I'm going to drive it some more but car definitely feels like it's pulling to the right.

Anyone know how these things can screw up? They even printed out the Alignment report, showing the initlal and corrected #s.

I had the same problem, not with the dealer but with the tire shop I always went to, didn't think much of it until I moved and tried out another shop and everything was fine, both places were computerized alignment.

Sean89 · 05-06-2009, 11:42 AM

I cant even notice my wheel move. It is only when I drive at highway speeds where slight movement will cause the car to move.